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Electronics to be kept out of landfills in 2013

By STEPHANIE REIGHART Daily Record/Sunday News

Updated:
10/18/2012 11:07:25 AM EDT

York, PA -

Starting early next year, some
trash items can't be kicked to the
curb.

The Pennsylvania Covered
Device Recycling Act bans disposing certain electronic items starting
Jan. 24, 2013, according to a news release from the York County Solid
Waste Authority. Under the act, covered devices include televisions,
desktop and laptop computers, computer monitors and computer peripherals, or anything that connects
to a computer.

The acceptance of these materials at all solid waste disposal facilities - like York County Solid Waste
Authority - and placing them at the curb for waste pick-up are prohibited. They must be recycled.

The Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Protection reported
that electronic products are one of
the fastest growing streams of consumer and commercial waste.

"Our goal is to keep these cumbersome devices out of our
landfills," said Rep. Chris Ross, the
sponsor of the legislation, in a release. "And to provide consumers
... with a safe means of disposal."

According to the solid waste authority, haulers will place a sticker
with proper recycling directions on
electronic devices left for pick-up.
Residents will be responsible for
finding a recycling drop-off and delivering the items.

The act requires manufacturers
of covered devices sold or for sale
in Pennsylvania to make collection
programs available for recycling.

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Though not required, retailers also
might offer collection programs.
The programs are required to be free of charge, the release stated.

Residents are responsible for
the removal of any personal data on
hard drives.

Residents also can deliver their
devices monthly to the solid waste
authority at its York Waste Transfer
Facility in Manchester Township.
This month's drop-off will be 9 a.m.
to 1 p.m. Saturday.

Municipalities that opt to conduct
their own electronics recycling pro´
grams can also deliver their electronics to the solid waste authority
via the monthly drop-off program.

The solid waste authority works
with Eco International to manage
electronic recyclables. The company harvests usable parts, valuable
metals and potentially harmful components and recycles them. According to the solid waste authority's
website, virtually all but 1 percent
of the materials collected are recycled into new products.

Some electronic recycling locations in York County

Best Buy accepts all electronic devices included in the Covered Device Recycling Act. Residents are limited dropping off three items a day. Call 717-840-4530 for details.

Staples offers free recycling of all electronic devices included in the Covered Device Recycling Act. There is no limit to how many items can be dropped off at one time. There is a fee for some older model computer monitors. Call 717-852-8454 for details.

York County Solid Waste Authority accepts electronics for recycling one a month at its York Waste Transfer Facility. This month's program will be 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 20.

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